People in Kansas won’t see a total eclipse on April 8, but they’ll come close.
At the peak of that afternoon’s eclipse — which will reach totality in states that include nearby Oklahoma and Missouri — people in Wichita will see the sun obscured 87.7% by the moon. Those in Kansas City, Missouri, will see it obscured 87.2% by the moon.
The eclipse will be viewable from 12:31 to 3:06 p.m. in Wichita, 12:36 to 3:09 p.m. in Topeka and 12:38 to 3:11 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.
What determines how much of the sun you’ll see covered?
The April 8 total eclipse will chart a 115-mile-wide path of totality across parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., 13 states and an estimated 44 million people from Texas to Maine are along that path.
Most Americans will be able to the eclipse in some form, but the distance between your location and the path of totality will determine how much of the sun will be covered by the moon.
Search for your ZIP code above or select a major city to reveal the time, duration, peak and percentage of the eclipse in your area.
What is a solar eclipse?
The April 8 solar eclipse will be the first in the U.S. since 2017 and the last until 2044, according to NASA. A celestial object can create an eclipse by passing in front of another and obscuring the view of objects, such as the sun.
A total eclipse occurs when the moon appears to be the same size as the sun and blocks the entire view of the sun from Earth, bringing a temporary period of darkness and enabling observers to see the outmost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, the corona. The darkness can confuse animals, causing nocturnal creatures to become active.
NASA experts warn people against looking directly at the sun during a solar eclipse without specialized eye protection, saying that could cause permanent eye damage and potential blindness.
Those watching a solar eclipse are asked to use approved solar viewing glasses (also known as “eclipse glasses”) or a handheld solar viewer. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the eclipse, NASA says.
A total solar eclipse can only be viewed without protective eyewear during totality, which is when the sun is completely covered by the moon, it says.
As reported in the Topeka Capital Journal
